Labeling device for loose leaf binders



Aug. 21, 1934. H. c, PETERSON ET AL 1,970,621

LOOSE LEAF BINDERS www@ 5 umnimm Q1?, INVENToR s n ATTORNEY Patented ug. 21, 1934 PATEN oFFic LABELIN G DEVICE FR LOOSE LEAF BINDERS Harold C. Peterson, Belleville, N. J., and Felix A. Ganteaume, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 30, 1933, Serial Nuo. 663,486 6v Claims. (Cll `L29-1) The present invention relates to means for securing a label or legend to the edges cf a pile of loose leaves which are held together by engagement of the leaves with a post or posts passing through them.

More particularly the invention relates to the securing of a label, index or the like to the open back of a loose leaf binder consisting of a pile of leaves having openings through which pass posts and having upon each side of the pile a cover, the covers and leaves being clamped together by screw means applied to the posts.

It will readily be seen that the usual labels or indexes cannot be applied tothe edges of the leaves at the open back of the loose leaf binder in the manner that they are applied to the back of ordinary books, and the diiiiculties in the way of applying labels to the edgesof the leaves at the open back of a loose leaf binder have, as a general rule, prevented the use of labels in that position. Itis commonly the practice to apply the 'identifying labels to the loose leaf binders upon the covers. The ordinary manner of stor-l ing books ison edge with the backs outward. With the labels placed as just specified it is impossible to identify any binder by running the eye along the indexes as is usual with ordinary books, but it is necessary to pull each binder out of position sufficiently so that the label on its side may be viewed. This is an inconvenient and time-consuming operation, and the main object of the invention is to provide, by improved means, the securing of a label on the edges of theloose leaves at the open back of a loose leaf binder. A further' object of the invention isjto provide a. labeling means of the character as indicated which shall be readily attached or detached in a simple manner and with minimum care on the part of the user and which shall be securely held in position.` A further object of the present invention is to provide a label device at the open back of a loose leaf binder which shall remain in place at all times Whether the leaves are clamped together or not. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described wherein the labeling means will t snugly to the sheet edges at "the back of the book regardless of'lack of uniformity of the punchings in the sheets orv wearing of the holes in thesheets against the posts.

It is a further object of the invention to .provide a labeling device for the open back of a loose leaf binder which shall be applicable regardless of the number of posts employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a labeling device which shall lie within the ends of the cover projecting beyond the edges of the loose leaves at the back whereby the binder being placed upon its back on a table, desk or the like, will rest upon the covers and the labeling device will be held out of contact with the supporting surface so that it cannot scratch such surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a labelingdevice for the open back of a loose leaf binder which shall be strong and shall be resilient where' necessary to cause close fitting and of stili and unyielding vconstruction where suchcharacteristic is required.

'A further object of the invention is to construct the labeling device for attachment to the open back of a loose leaf binder of a singlepiece of sheet metal. i

A further object of the invention is to'provide labeling device to be applied to the open end of a loose leaf binder, which device shall comprise a holder for a label card or cards, said card or cards being readily insertable and removable at appropriate times but securely held in said holder when in use on the back of the binder.

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrate the invention' Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a loose-leaf binder with the improved labeling device applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top` plan View, on an enlarged scale, of the rear end of the loose-leaf binder as shown in Fig. 1, the front portion of the loose-leaf binder being broken away, and the View being also broken away to show a section through the post to which the labeling device is applied;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the labeling de vice on the same scale as Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig; 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of a fragment of the labeling device; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which the labeling device is formed.

Referring to the drawing, the loose-leaf binder comprises the usual covers l between which extend the posts 2 which extend through perforations in the loose leaves 3 between the covers, the posts serving to clamp the covers and leaves tightly together or to be loosened so that the leaves may be disengaged from the posts or others front plate 4 are the side portions 7 and 8 which are bent inwardly at the rear at 9 and 10 to over-- lap the back plate 6.

pocket having the front and back plates 4 vand d and sides '7 and 8, within which may be inserted an index or label card 11 which may Carry the title of the book or advertising matter or any de.

sired notation. In front of the index card maybe placed a transparent plate vl2 of Celluloid o'r other suitable material through whichthefnotaf tions on the index card may be viewed. `This transparent plate may be colored or otherwise, conditioned so as to form an additional Yindication of the status of the book or convey other desired information as, for instance, the trans-` parent plates used on the books containing records for a given year, may have one color, as for instance green, while the transparent plates of the labeling device on hooks for another year mayhave adiferent color,.as for instance red, and so on for any number of years, a-diierent color being provided for each respective year, so that the books for a given year may be identified by the color.

rlhe edges of the window l are bent inwardlyV as shown so that the outer surface is smooth and not sharp, so that theywill not be liable to catch in clothing or other articles with which they may corne in contact.

The back plate 6 has at its top edge ears 13 which are bent rearwardly and downwardly tightly about the parts 9 and 10; This serves to stiffen the structure and render it vmore rugged and also serves to hold the back plate 6 spaced from the front plate 4 so that the cards may freely move between these plates in the pocket or holder of which they form a part. vSlits are `cut from the top downwardly in the backf plate 6 to form the spring tongue 14, the beadf15 being provided near the base of and extending transversely of the tongue to improve its spring action. The

spring 14, tending to stand away from the front` plate (see Fig. 4), has at its upper edge a forwardly extending lip 16 adapted, when the spring is pressed toward the plate,lto cooperatewith a rearwardly extending lip 17 on theplate `4 to close t e top of the index card holder and prevent removal ofthe index cards therefrom.

Joined to' the parts 9 and 10 and extending' rearwardly from the plate-like index carrier are two flat plate-like projections 18 and 19. VEach of theseproiections has a recess or slot 2l) opening at a lateral side of the rearwardly projecting platevand forming a hook 21 adapted tohook over one of the binder posts `2 and secure the labeling device 'in position. Theedge 22 of the slot which'is furtherest from the label or index. holder has its edge serrated as shown, the notches of the serrations being such as to approximately conform to the periphery of the binding post. Also the lower end of the serrated edge is at a greater distance from the index or label holding plate than is the top portion of said edge. In other words `the serrated edge is tapered away from the index or label holder proceeding from the closed end'of the recess -to the open end.l

There is thus formed a" Avice'is thenpre'ssed downwardly when the tapered serrated edge of the recess will force the label `holder againstftheback edges of the leaves and the 'downward pressure is continued until the The labeling device may be constructed from a flat sheet metal blank, as shown in Fig. '7, having the various parts corresponding to the parts of the plate holder, similar parts being indicated by the same reference characters.

In placing the labeling device in use, the leaves are loosened sufficiently. sothat the projections 18 .and 19 maybeinserted vbetween them at appropriate points. The projections are then inserted between the leaves and the hook portions 21 hooked over a binding post 2 so that the binding'post enters the recesses or slot 20. The delab'el holder" is forced tightly against the leaf edges.` The--labelingdevice is secured in this :position by. the engagement of the binding post in one' ofthe serrations.

The operation of tightly forcing the/label holder, against .the edges ofthe leaves. causes-the leaves to push the spring 1,4 towards the label.holder thereby ysecuring the indexer label cards in the holder pocket and also the spring action `of the tongue 14 against the leaves draws Vthe hook portion 2 1 forwardly so as tohold the serrated edgesecurely in engagement with the p0st. y

The` improved labeling`l device has ythe advantage thatwit engageswith but a single binding postnsothat it may be ,applied to L any binder. no matter what the spacing between the posts. Also the characteristic of forcing the holder inwardly by` pressing the device downwardly insures thatl it will be held tightly against the edgesof the leaves. regardless of whether orwnot the leaves are uniformly punched and regardless of vwhatever the distance maybe between lthe post andthe adjacent edges of the leaves. Alsoit will be apparent that the. use and securing of thefdevice is independent of whether or not the leaves'are' clamped togetherA asit will function` as well when the leaveslare placed loosely together las when they are tightly' clamped. The invention also has merli/ Other advantages. Y

HWhile.. the invention has been illustrated ,fin what is considered its Vbest application it 'may have other embodiments Without departing from its spirit and is not therefore limited `to the-structure shown in .thefr drawing.` A

What weclairnis': A. f

1. A labeling device-for a loose'leaf book hav'- ingone'- o r. morev posts extending through the leaves,I comprising a label holderadapted toY lie against the edges of theleaves and a projection extending therefrom adapted to lenter between the .leaves, vsaid projection havingra single postembracing slot extending .longitudinally of `the leaf edges against which (the said holder is adapted tolie and having an openend', the .said Islot being wider .at ,its open than at its other end'.v 2. A labelingdevice for a'loose leaf 'book Nhav- Ling one orv moreposts extending through'the leaves,v comprisingfa label holder adapted to llie against the'edges" of Athe leaves anda projection extendingv therefrom adapted to enter between the leaves, saidV project having a 'single'post-embracing slot extending longitudinally of the leaf edges against 'which the said holder-'is adapted to lie and having ario'pen end," said slot having -a serrated edge. L f n L f3. TA labeling devicefora loose leaf book having one or more posts extending throughthe leaves,- comprisingf'a'labetholder.adapted to lie againstthe .edges of the" leaves and a projection extending therefrom adapted to enter between the leaves, said projection having a single postembracing slot extending longitudinally of the leaf edges against which the said holder is adapted to lie and having an open end and spring means for drawing the edge of said slot against its embraced post.

4. A labeling device for a loose leaf book having one or more posts extending through the leaves, comprising a label holder` adapted to lie against the edges of the leaves and a projection extending therefrom adapted to enter between the leaves, said projection having a single posteinbracing slot extending longitudinally of the leaf edges against which the said holder is adapted to lie and having an open end, said slot having a serrated edge and spring means for drawing the said serrated edge against the embraced post.

5. A labeling device for a loose leaf book having one or more posts extending through the leaves, comprising a label holder adapted to lie against the edges of the leaves and a projection extending therefrom adapted to enter between the leaves, said projection having a single postembracing slotl extending longitudinally of the leaf edges against which the said holder is adapted to lie and having an open end, said slot having a serrated edge, the serrated edge of said slot being at a greater distance from the label holder at its open than at its closed end.

6. A labeling device for a loose leaf book having one or more posts extending through the leaves, comprising a label holder adapted to lie against the edges of the leaves and a projection extending therefrom adapted to enter between the leaves, said projection having a single postembracing slot extending longitudinally of the leaf edges against which the said holder is adapt- `ed to lie and having an open end, the edge of said recess engaging with said post being tapered to different distances from the holder whereby, as the labeling device is placed in position on the book, the said holder will be forced against the leaf edges.

HAROLD C. PETERSON. FELIX A. GANTEAUME. 

